Ryanair has lost its appeal against having to pay €8.3 million for breaching employment laws in France.
The low-cost airline appealed against an earlier ruling that it breached French regulations when hiring local staff from Marseille on Irish contracts between 2007 and 2010.
It meant Ryanair paid 10.7% in Irish charges, rather than the 45% figure in France.
The court judgement ruled Ryanair’s act was one of ‘unfair competition against other airlines’.
Ryanair appealed the judgement, but the original decision of the court was upheld yesterday.
Ryanair must now pay €8.3 million – made up of a fine of €200,000, plus €8.1 million in interest to unpaid social security agencies and damages.
Jean-Victor Borel, lawyer for France’s Ursaff social security collecting agency, said: "European law is not an instrument designed to defraud the social security."
Meanwhile, Ryanair has announced it will open a new base in Copenhagen and will launch twice-daily flights from Luton to the city in March.
